The Trudeau government’s nominee for the Auditor General of Canada says she is seeking long-term and predictable funding for her office, as resourcing constraints continue to leave the watchdog unable to carry out all its audits on time.

Auditors general have routinely testified at parliamentary committees in recent years that new funding is needed in oder to conduct their increasing scope of work. Interim auditor general Sylvain Ricard told the House of Commons finance committee on May 12 that the lack of money and increased workload from the COVID-19 crisis has forced the office to delay several performance audits.

The office, which probes deep into the use of public funds and performance of government policies, was recently handed the sprawling tasks of examining Ottawa’s $187-billion infrastructure plan and its estimated $151-billion COVID-19 emergency response — projects that have been prioritized.

Karen Hogan, whose nomination as the next auditor general was announced on May 13, told the House public accounts committee on Tuesday that she will have to continue the effort by Ricard and late auditor general Michael Ferguson in pushing for both long-term and short-term funding. The committee, which was vetting her nomination, had previously recommended a new funding model.

“I fully agree that finding a long-term, sustainable, independent funding mechanism for our office is a great solution, one where I see this committee and Parliament playing a key oversight role in as well,” Hogan told MPs.

“It would be one of my first priorities should I be appointed auditor general.”

While Hogan did not offer a proposed funding mechanism or specific dollar request, Ricard had told the finance committee last week that the office is requesting $10.8 million to help it meet short-term demands and modernize.

Hogan said she wants the office to upgrade its existing IT infrastructure, make use of newer data analytic technology and better communicate its work to the public. She said the office had made a funding request to the government ahead of the 2020 budget, which has yet to be released because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hogan has worked in the auditor general’s office for 14 years, starting under Sheila Fraser, who served as auditor general from 2001 to 2011, and climbing in position from a director to assistant auditor general.

Late Auditor General of Canada Michael Ferguson. iPolitics/Matthew Usherwood

A bilingual speaker from Montreal, Hogan said she has worked as a chartered professional accountant for 25 years, in both the private and public sectors. She told the committee she has experience conducting both performance and financial audits, including producing the federal government’s consolidated financial statements

If confirmed, Hogan will replace Ferguson as permanent auditor general. Ferguson died in February 2019 after a battle with cancer. An auditor general serves for a 10-year term, a length of time meant to insulate the independent agent of parliament from political intrusion.

“I would absolutely approach every audit with a balanced view. I believe that focusing on improvements is one of the main outcomes,” Hogan told the committee. “But I also know that everything I’ve done in the past and, what I would do in the future, would be to report the good, the bad and the ugly.”

Under new constraints, four audits scheduled for tabling in fall 2020 are now delayed until 2021. Three completed audits also await tabling in Parliament.

Hogan also said Tuesday the completion of the infrastructure audit could be delayed past its early 2021 deadline set by the House, noting that the office’s employees have had to adjust to working from home.

The pandemic has also prevented auditors from visiting departments and agencies being audited although discussions with deputy ministers have continued.

Hogan, who is part of the office’s steering committee on the COVID-19 audit, said that probe will focus on preparedness, actions during the pandemic and lessons learned.

She said reported cases of fraud with emergency benefits may increase its scope.

“When decisions are taken quickly, mistakes can occur,” she added in French, “so when we come into audit programs we would expect to find a mechanism in place to identify mistakes and if mistakes were made, that there be a mechanism to correct these errors and to get the money reimbursed.”